RIGA — Due to the extreme cold, the Riga Township Fire Hall is open as a warming center 24 hours a day until further notice. Riga Township Fire Chief Mike Norman said arrangements can be made for the fire department to pick township residents up at their homes if they are having trouble keeping it warm. Norman said if any elderly people need chores done outside that they are concerned about doing in the cold, they can call the fire department
"We encourage them to call us if they need help."… ...

Janie Bunge had a grand ole' time Tuesday night.
She hit the 1000-career-points mark in a 45-25 loss to Ida. Bunge recorded the milestone with 7:01 remaining in the game with an and-one at the free-throw line to cut the Ida lead to 28-18.
Overall, she scored 14 points in the loss - more than half her team's total, bringing her career total to 1005 after tonight's game.
For the complete story, please see the Feb. 25, 2015, edition of The Advance. ...

Whiteford Superintendent Larry Shilling announced he will be stepping down from the district.
"I am retiring effective June 30, 2015," he said.
Shilling has been Whiteford's Superintendent since 2009. He previously served as Deerfield's superintendent from 2002-2009 and was principal before that. Shilling also taught and coached in the Summerfield Schools.
Please look for the whole story in the Feb. 25 edition of The Advance. ...

If you want to know what's happening in eastern Lenawee County and western Monroe County, these are the headlines in the Feb. 18, 2015, edition of The Advance...
1. Johnson named Blissfield superintendent
2. Suspect in BHS threat faces count of 'threat of terrorism' as juvenile
3. August farm event to herald new ag museum, with a photo and info as the museum committee makes a down payment on land which is to be the site of the proposed farm museum
4. BCS in-service training seeks to thwart school intr… ...

In the May 1, 2013, edition of The Advance, find the spring and summer guide to Blissfield Village and its activities. The guide will also be available in several Michigan Welcome Centers and area businesses.

Find a spring and summer calendar; get the first peek at plans for the 30th anniversary of the Blissfield River Raisin Festival July 10-13; learn of things to see and local resources, too.

The Blissfield Elementary School is hosting an open house from 2-5 p.m. Saturday to honor fifth grade teacher Gary Koppelman who was recently awarded the Shell National Science Teaching Award. Koppelman recently returned from Texas where he received the award. He will also be honored yet again by Shell with a thank you to him on the Shell car at the Brickyard 400 Koppelman’s award-winning video will be on display at the open house. There will be refreshments and an opportunity to speak with Koppelman

After much anticipation, Blissfield High School has announced Adam Schiermyer as the next head coach to captain the Blissfield varsity football program. Schiermyer is no stranger to the area as he is a graduate and former football and baseball standout at Morenci High School and Adrian College.

Schiermyer will bring his experience and knowledge from years of playing along with more than nine years of coaching experience to the program. Schiermyer is leaving his post as a high school physical education teacher and head football coach at division-two Bradshaw Mountain High School in Prescott Valley, Ariz.

After only one season at the helm as varsity head coach, Schiermyer said his move to Blissfield was a pleasant surprise.

“I’ve always had a goal to get back to Lenawee County. It’s always been the area I wanted to go to, I just didn’t … Read More »

Voters in the Whiteford Agricultural School district will go to the polls Tuesday, May 7, to vote on the renewal of the current no-homestead tax levy.

This levy is for operating funds and applies to vacant land, commercial and industrial properties, rental properties and vacation homes within the school district.

This renewal does not increase taxes on any primary residences or qualified agricultural or forest property. The renewal would generate approximately $821,047 for educational funding in 2014.

According to an information sheet provided by the Whiteford School District, the proposal will allow the district to levy 18 ills on all property except principal residences and other exempt property required for the school district to receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance. It renews the current millage that expires with the 2013 tax levy. The district is asking for a five year renewal for … Read More »

The Michigan Department of Transportation anticipates reopening the southbound entrance ramp from U.S. 23 from U.S. 223 later today. The ramp has been closed for two weeks for reconstruction. This will reopen but on Friday there will be a major change implemented on U.S. 223/St. Anthony Road. According to a press release from MDOT a stage change involves shifting all traffic on U.S. 223 to the south sid of the roadway, while construction shifts to the north half of the U.S. 23/U.S. 223 interchange. Construction includes building roundabouts along the north half of the interchange at the raps. This stage, including the ramp closures, is anticipated to take approximately 28 calendar days. Two-way traffic will be maintained on U.S. 223 between Whiteford Center Road and the northbound U.S. 223 exit ramp using temporary signals. Two lanes of traffic also will … Read More »

Blissfield High School athletic director Steve Babbitt has announced that Adam Schiermyer is taking the reins of the Blissfield Varsity Football program.

Schiermyer, a high school physical education teacher and head football coach at Bradshaw Mountain High School in Prescott Valley, Arizona, said he is excited to be returning to Lenawee County to continue his teaching and coaching career, Babbitt said. A graduate of Adrian College, he majored in physical education and played both football and baseball.

After receiving his degree, Schiermyer attended the United States Sports Academy, where he earned his masters of sport science degree in 2003. Before serving as head football coach at Bradshaw Mountain, he had been a teacher and assistant football coach at Perry High School in Gilbert, Arizona, for six years, and at Highland High School, also in Gilbert, for two years.

It’s been nearly 180 years since the Erie and Kalamazoo railways tracks were laid across southeastern Michigan and still the railroad tradition remains ever present in the greater Blissfield community. To celebrate that long, rich history with the railroad the Blissfield Downtown Development Authority/Main Street Program has extended the second annual Blissfield Railroad Days presented by McDonald’s of Lenawee County to a two-day affair Saturday and Sunday, April 20-21.

One can ride the rails on the “Old Road,” explore static displays of a once busy caboose and an engine at the Adrian and Blissfield Railroad, as well as tour shops, local attractions and homes with the attraction of several different model trains and railroads and buy and sell model railroad items at an indoor swap meet on Sunday.

Organizers have extended the event to two days to accommodate the large … Read More »

OTTAWA LAKE – A “low-level lockdown” at Whiteford Agricultural Schools was lifted early Friday afternoon, April 19. The school district had been in lockdown mode since earlier that morning. Officials said phone threats against some students had been made by another individual. According to the person who answered the phones at Whiteford Schools after 2 p.m., several school officials were in a debriefing session. It does not appear that students were in any danger and the lockdown was a precautionary measure. According to the “Monroe County School Emergency Information Guide”, a lockdown takes place when an internal or external threat id identified. No entry or exit will be allowed from the school until an “all-clear” is announced

The Blissfield Kiwanis Club will host its annual pancake supper from 4:30-7 p.m. Thursday, April 18, in the Blissfield High School cafeteria.

The bevy of breakfast foods on the menu include pancakes, french toast, sausage, coffee, apple sauce and white and chocolate milk.

Proceeds from the fundraiser are used by the Kiwanis Club to fund several charities involving local children. These funds have been used for scholarships, as well as the annual dictionary donations made to third-graders in Blissfield and Deerfield elementary schools.

As of Monday evening, the outside westbound lane on U.S. 223 in Blissfield from Maple Street to just east of Monroe Street is closed. Michigan Department of Transportation is working in Blissfield to replace curbs on that side of the street that include the removal of driveaways from the former Smith property. Work is expected to last approximately three days, weather permitting.